Confirmed Signing with Link: [TOR] Leafs sign Alexei Barabanov (1 year, $925k)

[Kshahdoo]

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[BlueBaron]

As expected. Welcome to the organization!

 

[TS Quint]

Hhmmmmm if that picture is any indication he skates like a 3 year old who put skates on for the first time last week.

 

[TheDoldrums]

Has the same agent as Mikheyev. Leafs seem to have a pretty good relationship with Russian players lately.

 

[ViewsFromThe6ix]

a good third liner for 925k is a very nice add.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Dubas continues to find cheap depth.

 

[Merrrlin]

I like what I hear - energetic, persistent, relentless.

Definitely need more of those types with Brown and Moore going out.

 

[Holymakinaw]

The Leafs now have the greatest, most skilled, toughest, highest hockey IQ, most defensively responsible, highest octane offence team EVER!!!!

(Did I do that right? )

 

[Holymakinaw]

Also, that Robertson kid might be ready to come soon too, so "free wallet" guys like this, and kids like Robertson are KEY for them, to manage their cap and hopefully have any success.

 

[POVERTY]

Hhmmmmm if that picture is any indication he skates like a 3 year old who put skates on for the first time last week.

I look at pictures of sprinters to determine if they're slow or not

 

[al secord]

Nice to have something to talk about. Welcome aboard.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Nice.

 

[Merrrlin]

Hhmmmmm if that picture is any indication he skates like a 3 year old who put skates on for the first time last week.

HF scouting at it's best

 

[hamzarocks]

Not bad, pretty productive player who is still young enough that if he plays well we would be able to get good production in future years.

Not sure where he plays as we have a lot of good middle 6 wingers in kapanen, johnsson, Hyman, mikheyev, engvall and now him. Wonder if dubas goes and makes a trade at the draft

 

[uncleben]

I thought they weren't allowed to sign until May 1 bc if their KHL contracts

So either this is just the Leafs saying, "yeah we've agreed to sign" but it's not official for another month, or the KHL ended their contracts early bc the season was canned

 

[supermann_98]

Hhmmmmm if that picture is any indication he skates like a 3 year old who put skates on for the first time last week.

Bust confirmed

 

[Ola]

Good signing. He is skilled, really fast and what not, but biggest advantage is that he basically works as well in a smaller role as in a big role. Don’t have to play in a goto role to thrive.

 

[Crease Master]

Hey great, another speedy and gutless bottom six skill guy who can move up and down the lineup just like Kerfoot, Engvall, Malgin, Johnsson, Petan, Bracco, and every prospect we've drafted over the last couple years or signed as a free agent. Can't have too many of those when you're trying to tread water on the playoff bubble, that's for sure!

Honestly, what's the point of a free wallet when you have a garbage bag full of them already sitting there? Lets start signing players who can improve the team and make a difference instead of adding more apathetic skill to the bottom six. Unless this clown can throw a punch, a body check, or a temper tantrum after a poor team effort we don't need him.

 

[Hzzz]

meh I'm not that impressed, there's a bunch of other players in the KHL who I would rather have

 

[Patmac40]

Hey great, another speedy and gutless bottom six skill guy who can move up and down the lineup just like Kerfoot, Engvall, Malgin, Johnsson, Petan, Bracco, and every prospect we've drafted over the last couple years or signed as a free agent. Can't have too many of those when you're trying to tread water on the playoff bubble, that's for sure!

Honestly, what's the point of a free wallet when you have a garbage bag full of them already sitting there? Lets start signing players who can improve the team and make a difference instead of adding more apathetic skill to the bottom six. Unless this clown can throw a punch, a body check, or a temper tantrum after a poor team effort we don't need him.

He's a guy who can play up and down the lineup making $925k on a roster that is likely right at the cap. They need moves like this in order to move money around and get other guys to fill in other roles. If you're comfortable with the player and you don't have to pay him much, it seems like a good signing.

I also don't think you can say that Bracco and Petan can play all that well throughout the lineup. They both thrive in offense-heavy roles and don't seem to bring as much to a 3rd or 4th line. So Barabanov is a cheaper option than Johnsson, Kerfoot, and Engvall who could potentially supplant one of these guys and make them expendable. Once again, makes sense and seems like a good signing.

 

[Namikaze Minato]

Hey great, another speedy and gutless bottom six skill guy who can move up and down the lineup just like Kerfoot, Engvall, Malgin, Johnsson, Petan, Bracco, and every prospect we've drafted over the last couple years or signed as a free agent. Can't have too many of those when you're trying to tread water on the playoff bubble, that's for sure!

Honestly, what's the point of a free wallet when you have a garbage bag full of them already sitting there? Lets start signing players who can improve the team and make a difference instead of adding more apathetic skill to the bottom six. Unless this clown can throw a punch, a body check, or a temper tantrum after a poor team effort we don't need him.

"What's the point of money when you already have money?!"

 

[Crease Master]

He's a guy who can play up and down the lineup making $925k on a roster that is likely right at the cap. They need moves like this in order to move money around and get other guys to fill in other roles. If you're comfortable with the player and you don't have to pay him much, it seems like a good signing.

I also don't think you can say that Bracco and Petan can play all that well throughout the lineup. They both thrive in offense-heavy roles and don't seem to bring as much to a 3rd or 4th line. So Barabanov is a cheaper option than Johnsson, Kerfoot, and Engvall who could potentially supplant one of these guys and make them expendable. Once again, makes sense and seems like a good signing.

Its only a good signing if he is better than what we already have and he isn't. Cap flexibility in this case is a myth. The Leafs only gain cap flexibility if this guy is better than a player already in the lineup who is making more than him, and who can be moved for an upgrade. Is he better than Kappy or Kerfoot? Is he better than Johnsson? Is he better than any other forward on the team currently making over 1 million a year? The answer to all of the above is no, so you aren't gaining cap flexibility at all.

I'll put this in terms everyone (even namikaze minato) can understand: You are driving around town with 4 perfectly good tires on your car when you see a donut sized spare tire at the side of the road for free. You throw it in the trunk with 5 other donut sized spare tires you already have. Sure, it doesn't hurt to have spare tire number 6 in the back if a disaster happens, but it isn't going to make the car run better. That's what we need to do here, we need to improve the Leafs not horde spare parts like toilet paper. As I said earlier, unless this guy can throw a punch, a body check or temper tantrum after a poor team effort he isn't a player we need.

 

[Dominance]

I fully expect my fellow Leafs fans to start pencilling this guy onto the first line. In fact, I’ve already seen it on our boards. Some people never learn.

We’ve already got posters in this thread, who I guarantee have never seen this guy play, saying Barabanov can play up and down the lineup much better than everyone else we’ve got.

Me, I’m fine with the signing. I’m just sick of people acting like just because it’s our team, Mr. run-of-the-mill FA will be something special, or that adding a bottom-6 forward will change anything meaningfully.

 

[BlueBaron]

Hey great, another speedy and gutless bottom six skill guy who can move up and down the lineup just like Kerfoot, Engvall, Malgin, Johnsson, Petan, Bracco, and every prospect we've drafted over the last couple years or signed as a free agent. Can't have too many of those when you're trying to tread water on the playoff bubble, that's for sure!

Honestly, what's the point of a free wallet when you have a garbage bag full of them already sitting there? Lets start signing players who can improve the team and make a difference instead of adding more apathetic skill to the bottom six. Unless this clown can throw a punch, a body check, or a temper tantrum after a poor team effort we don't need him.

Are you aware assets can be traded? Did you know not every player plays their whole career with the team they start with? I always enjoy posts with insane rants on transactions that in no way harm the team.

Good talk.

 

[Patmac40]

Its only a good signing if he is better than what we already have and he isn't. Cap flexibility in this case is a myth. The Leafs only gain cap flexibility if this guy is better than a player already in the lineup who is making more than him, and who can be moved for an upgrade. Is he better than Kappy or Kerfoot? Is he better than Johnsson? Is he better than any other forward on the team currently making over 1 million a year? The answer to all of the above is no, so you aren't gaining cap flexibility at all.

I'll put this in terms everyone (even namikaze minato) can understand: You are driving around town with 4 perfectly good tires on your car when you see a donut sized spare tire at the side of the road for free. You throw it in the trunk with 5 other donut sized spare tires you already have. Sure, it doesn't hurt to have spare tire number 6 in the back if a disaster happens, but it isn't going to make the car run better. That's what we need to do here, we need to improve the Leafs not horde spare parts like toilet paper. As I said earlier, unless this guy can throw a punch, a body check or temper tantrum after a poor team effort he isn't a player we need.

The analogy would make more sense if you consider that the tire is perfectly functional and you have a winter beater at home (the Marlies) that could use the tire as well at no extra cost to you. We’re not hoarding, this is normal asset management.

And cap flexibility is a real thing that isn’t achieved by not having contingency plans or guys who can step into similar roles at a cheaper price. Is he better than those guys? Possibly not, but a lot can change in a year and it might be the case. And if it comes to the point where the guy making less is playing well enough to be in the lineup and beat out guys who are making more, then there’s your flexibility and gives you a chance to go out and move someone for another area that you may need. This doesn’t mean that it’ll happen, but there’s no reason to think this isn’t a decent signing with a bit of upside based on his track record. And if he ends up just being a 4th liner? Cool, it’s a 1 year ELC.

All of this isn’t to say that they aren’t looking at their other roster holes (looking for more dmen, re-signing Clifford) but this is a guy whose game they are comfortable with that they’re able to get for no assets. I think we’re in hair-splitting territory at this point.